UNITEDRANT

Media Digest: the love story, heroes of the past and Regina Spektor

For many, Sunday is a day spent in the company of the family and friends, reading that unfinished book, or watching a new episode of a favourite show. Over at United Rant it’s a day spent catching up on the beautiful game. Join us, in Rant’s weekly round-up of Manchester United-related news and blogs – Media Digest.

BLOGS

Another week, another comeback: fitting not only to the season so far, but to the occasion, as United unveiled Sir Alex Ferguson’s statue. A lot of praise mixed with some disapproval in this week’s digest, as the heroes of the past returned. Although she once sang that “blue [is] the most human color”, our hostess this week is Regina Spektor.

“The sculptor’s marble sends regards, They made a statue of us”

There are times fans may disagree with Ferguson, and even feel ashamed of his behaviour at times, but the manager means a world to United fans. “Love” would be too strong a word for some, as they quite simply do not forgive and forget when it comes to Glazers, but the chant of “Every single one of us loves Alex Ferguson” is still sung loud and clear during games.

Indeed, whatever your views are on how Fergie handles the press or whom he supports, there is a sense of gratitude for what Sir Alex has done for United.

The Busby Wayquotes Sir Bobby Charlton: “we didn’t in our wildest dreams think that it would last as long as this. He’s just a sensational manager, I keep repeating it, [but] others must look on in envy.”

Last Friday marked a special occasion, as many United legends and greats – including Bryan Robson, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Eric Cantona – came to Old Trafford as special guests for the unveiling of Ferguson’s statue.

“Normally people die before they see their statue. I’m outliving death!” the boss jokes, with a humor both light-hearted and dark. The fire is still burning despite being just a month short of 71-years-old. Certainly, as Republik of Mancunia reports, Ferguson didn’t need a second invitation to fire a first shot at newly appointed Chelsea manager Rafa Benitez this week.

While other teams have sometimes been much more pleasing on the eye, Manchester United were often called “the worst United side to win the league”. It is this ability to constantly defy critics and bring the best out of the players brought in that truly make Sir Alex the greatest manager of all times.

“They’ll… later say it’s all our fault, Then they’ll give us a talking to”

Howver, life wasn’t all unicorns and rainbows for fans. Once again, United failed to impress in the first 60 or so minutes of the game against Queens Park Ranger, owing the positive result to QPR’s mediocrity. With United topping the league table, and in the knockout stage of the Champions League, there’s no need to panic, but with so many bad signs, nervous are many fans.

While in the end the result rewarded United, their tendency to forget tempo and pressure in the dressing room is a problem that a world class team can’t afford, let alone a team like United whose shortcomings appear with alarming regularity. Fans must be wondering which one is the real United – the shockingly bad one of the first 58 minutes or the blood and thunder one that scored three times in 10 minutes?

There is no doubt players under-performed against the Hammers, but it’s the manager who’s often held responsible for team’s failures. Has Fergie become too sentimental to let some players go? That’s what a number of bloggers argued.

Whatever Fergie and Gill claim publicly the tightening purse strings have denied us the opportunity to make the changes clearly needed. The gaping hole in the centre of our midfield would be visible to my partially-sighted grandmother, looking through a telescope from the moon. Fergie is one of the best managers in the history of the game. A glaringly obvious lack of quality in the centre of the pitch is not something that is likely to have just passed him by. He just can’t do anything about it. Or is it that he just feels obliged not to, out of loyalty to a couple of his most trusted lieutenants? Has Fergie simply got a bit softer with age?

Manchester United supporters will be showing their affection for Eric, with a special week of tributes to pay homage to the great man. #cantonaweek kicks off with a supporters charity evening in honour of Eric, at The Bishops Blaize pub on the Friday night (23rd Nov). Hosted by Pete Boyle, tickets are £2 and are available from The Bishops. A special tribute message from Eric himself will be played on the screen during the night… Prior to the West Ham game, a supporters Cantona march will take place before the game.

The latest issues of popular fanzines Red News and United We Stand also featured Cantona related stories and both have the Frenchman on the cover.

The refreshingly blunt Keane would remind this group of Liverpool players that they were indeed underachievers, going at them like the wooden targets in a shooting range, one by one for verbal practice. Phil Babb would get it. John Scales, too: “You’re rubbish as well, with your England B cap, you’re nowt, rubbish.” And then Redknapp who, like Scales, tried to make peace and failed. “What the hell have you done in the game?” Keane would ask, most likely rhetorically.

Meanwhile, Devils of Manchester notes an interesting example of hatred. In his book My Premier League Diary, Swansea City defender Ashley Williams writes that he’d love to knock Suarez out. Amazingly, as if the Being Liverpool television series wasn’t embarrassing enough for the club and Brendan Rogers… [the book] “was actually sanctioned by Brendan Rogers during his time as Swansea City manager.”

Finally, Scott from Republik of Mancunia is enraged by United ripping the fans off. Apparently, the club thinks it’s okay to give away City away tickets to random businesses, rather then ensure fans get them.